Day four of group D, the picture is getting clearer

Day four of group D was a day of two close games, which led us to two team advancing to the next round, one got eliminated one polish team who, despite losing, have their fate in their hands.

The first game between France and Poland was open by a French blitz led by the super athletic Boris Dallo and the active Axel Bottelie, but the Polish team didn’t panic, and showed they can run aswell.

It’s a very fundamentally sound Polish team, with no big stars but they run the floor very well.

They led tourgh most of the second half, but 4^th quarter run by Dallo and Luwawu was too much for them to handle.

Kacper Borowski had a very good game, being very active on both ends of the court. He has great athletic ability and nice size for a European forward standing about 2.05, and despite being pretty thin, he (with Witilinsky) did excellent job containing the massive Jaiteh.

The biggest disappointment in this group so far to me is Damian Jeszke, who was the MVP of the last u18 Div B.

Standing slightly under 2.00, he plays full time PF for the Polish team, he shows good court awareness in most of the games, but two very irresponsible fouls he made has pretty much led to the French comeback.

He has good touch but should develop a better finishing technique in the paint, as he tried twice to finish with jumpshot from 2 meters after a dish which was way, way off.

He has pretty poor mechanics on his shot, shooting from a very low release point (under his chin!), but shows very good touch on it.

The second game was a wrestle fight, with not much basketball being played.

Russia started the game much better but the Israeli match up zone and switch on everything defense was very efficient as the game continue.

Israel 4 forward line up could switch on everything, and the Russian guards could not fined a way past them.

Unless a late spark by Mikahil Kulagin, the Russian would have scored only 20 pts in the second half.

Today starts with a meaningless game between Israel and Bulgaria, and then Russia and Poland will match up for the most important game for both teams – the one who wins goes to the final 12, the loser will fight against the pleasure of playing Div B next year.

Day three of games in Rethymno

Third day in Rethymno is in the books.

Bulgaria had a great effort but Russia played better in the last quarter and won the match.

Israel led by a slight margin most of the even first half vs France, but the French squad burst into flames after the break, scoring 30 pts and holding on to the lead against the Israeli comeback.

Russia did a very solid job containing Vezenkov, but the energy level of the Bulgarian team was almost enough to win, with a great aggressive defense and a lot of fast break points, it seemed like Bulgaria could have fined a way to win for the first time in the tournament, but fatigue and a great 4^th quarter by Mikhail Kulagin was too much for them to handle.

Andrey Desyatinkov had a very good game, the 2.20 provided the Russian with rim protection, showing decent mobility and of course, length.   In one play he blocked the shot, and ran all the way to receive the ball for an easy dunk.   He is very thin, and seems like he won't be able to fill up a lot, but has good hands and nice touch around the rim, he is not an NBA caliber prospect, but can eventually play in a good eurocup and even euroleague team.

The second game was a disappointment to me.

The small Israeli team often plays with 4 guards and 1 forward,  and you expect from this kind of lineups to push the ball hard, even after basket.

For 3 quarters they did a very poor job running fast breaks and transition game.

The French team had one option against the small Israeli line up – Mam Jaiteh, who did fantastic job on the offensive end.

Playing with patience, not forcing the issue, he did marvelous job on passing out of the double team, and when he was not doubled up, it was an easy 2pts every time – going left, going right, using the rim and his body as protection, even playing one time from the high post showing nice body control.

This is a guy who is ready to contribute, with great fundamentals and very polished low post game.

Major concern so far is his free throw shooting, as he went 8\18 in three games, not showing soft touch, and missing badly too often.

Today starts with France facing off  Poland, should be an easy game for the Blues, but fatigue is a major concern for them, playing their fourth game in a row.

French win secures them a spot in the next round. Polish win scramble the whole group.

Israel vs Russia is the second game, Russia also looks to secure a spot in the next stage, but the Israeli squad is not an easy match up for any team.

Second day of play - group stage heating up

Second day of FIBAEuropeU20 is done.

The first game was dominated by the Israeli defense, which limited Poland to only 49 points.

The second game was much more entertaining, as Bulgaria led most of the second half but France, who came up short yesterday, were able to steal the crucial victory.

Both Israel and Poland started the game with shaky plays, as Poland were not able to find ways to score while Israel turned the ball over a lot.

The Israeli squad played "small-ball" most of the game, and used their speed advantage scramble the Polish half court sets with switching, trapping and active hands on passing lanes.

The organized but not very talented Polish team just couldn’t fined ways to deal with Israel active defense.

The Israelis forwards often pushed the ball on the break, not seizing good scoring situations but causing havoc on the court.

As I am not objective about the Israel squad  I won't write opinions on its players.

I was very disappointed by the play of Mikolaj Witilinsky, playing soft, not using his size advantage against the small forwards who guarded him most of the game.

The second game was a heck of a basketball game, featuring much Improved Alexander Vezenkov, who played an incredible all around game, doing it all for the Bulgarians.

He is at his best when he plays off the ball, using the French deny defense against them with great backdoors, using his incredible feel for the game.

The problem is- he never rests, played 37 minutes (1:30 of the rest was when he fouled out).

The Center for the Bulgarians, Denislav Vutev, had a great game, using his mobility to score in the paint, crushing the offensive boards and find gaps in the loaded French paint.

Very skinny for a Center, he wasn't able to contain the massive Jaiteh, and also left his feet too much on the French guards penetrations, leaving his man for open layups time after time.

French PG Boris Dallo had a good game, scoring the winning basket and providing the French team with a great athletic plays on offense.

Not a pure PG, Dallo is an attack the rim first guard with nice size for a European guard, great athleticism who can go either hand for the finish or the dish, and today did a much better job with the ball, not turning it over even once (yesterday 4 times).

He should improve his jumpshot and developing mid range game in order to play at the highest level, but the physical tools are there.   

Tomorrow begins with the Bulgarians trying to keep their hopes alive against the dynamic Russians, a matchup to watch because the Russian have no player who can contain Vezenkov.

The second game is the clash between Israel and France,  Im looking forward to see Israel playing with more conventional lineups, as French athleticism and size is in clear advantage.

In Iraklio, where I will be heading after the first group stage, the Turks and Slovenians are Impressive, Turks with their usual depth in every position and Slovenia with their dynamic undersized backcourt of Rebec and Nikolic.

More thoughts on those teams when I see them.

First day of games in Rythemno

Hi there.

After resting from the SF in Brazil last night, this is the report from the first day of the FIBA U20 European championship in Rethymno.

First game – Bulgaria vs Poland

The first game of the day didn’t show neither size nor high level plays from both teams.

It was decided, at the end, by the more mature and team oriented play of the Polish team, as well as the very poor boxout by the Bulgarians.

The whole game was played below the rim, as the only decent rim protector on both side, the Bulgarian Velislav Galbalov, was limited to only 9 points due to foul trouble.

Jan Grzelinsky was without no doubt the best player on the floor for Poland, very undersized at 1.80 but with very strong legs, he had no problems playing against the super undersized Bulgarian PGs, going wherever he wanted on the court, making the from PnR situation where he could either pull up for the midrange jumpshot or sting the paint for the kick or the finish.   He has a tendency to leave his feet on the drives looking for the pass in midair, and due to his size problem won't be able play high level basketball, but he is, with no doubt, the engine of the Polish team.

Mikolaj Witlinsky is the main prospect in POL, standing at about 2.08 with long wingspan, he is a fluid stretch 4 who due to size problem in the Polish team is forced to play C.   he does most of his damage from the top of the key, where he can either shot the ball or take it all the way to his preferable left hand (he is right handed).   His long feet creates a high center of gravity that does not allow him to play on the block on both ends.   He took 4 3pt shots, and usually floats around the 3pt line, not making him a target for dishes, but allowing him to spark for the offensive rebound.   At 6"10 with long wingspan but very limited explosiveness he is not at all a treat for protecting the rim.

Alexander Vezenkov was not at his best yesterday, mostly playing off the ball and taking lots of bad shots, he was not forcing until the final quarter and playing for his teammates, but he had tough time finishing yesterday.  His high basketball IQ and instincts helped him get 20 points at the end, but the Bulgarian squad need a much more aggressive Vezenkov if they want to stay in the A Division.

The second game was another opera from the warm up, as a much bigger and talented France and Russia where on the court.

France talent and athleticism is better, and any team will have a tough time scoring against their aggressive (but smart!) defense, but their banal offensive system and poor decision making helped the dynamic Russian team to steal the win.

It was an even match with a thriller in the end.

The Russian Mikhail Kulagin was the best player on the court, showing great maturity and playing under control, he was not forcing the issue, making some exceptional passes and scoring every time his team needed a bucket.  He played off the ball a lot, sometimes floats on the court, and even if he is considered a SG to me he has to play the PG position full time, as his size is ideal for a PG, and of course, his skills will be at full display running a team.

Mam Jaiteh had a tough time against the long and athletic Russian frontcourt,  he finished with 14 and 10 but had a tough shooting night.  He isn’t consistent enough finished around the rim, but showed he can finish on the low post with either hand.  On the defensive side he is a load on the paint, not protecting the rim a lot due to his limited explosiveness but his presence on the paint is well felt.

The surprising player on the court for all the 4 teams played yesterday was French man Guerschon Yabusele, the French Kyle Hines.        Listed at 2.00 but seems to be a 1.95, he is a physical specimen with long wingspan and great timing, crushing the boards on both ends and doing only the things he is capable of.  I really like his passing from the high post after the PnR, and he even scored one 3pt shot.

That’s it for yesterday, today starts for me with Israel first game facing off Poland, and then the two losers from yesterday France and Bulgaria will matched up for a critical game for both side.